Sanitizer construction

ABSTRACT

DRINKING GLASS SANITIZER UNIT WHICH INCLUDES A BASE OF MODIFIED CUP CONFIGURATION OF IMPREGNATABLE RESILIENT MATERIAL, AS PLASTIC FOAM, HAVING AN INTEGRAL CONCENTRIC ANNULAR WALL THE INNER SIDE OF WHICH IS CYLINDRICAL AND THE OUTER SIDE OF WHICH SLOPES OUTWARDLY DOWNWARDLY TO AN ANNULAR GROOVE ADJACENT AND BELOW THE DEFINING WALL OF THE CUP. AN AEROSOL CONTAINER WITH ANTISEPTIC LIQUID THEREIN IS MOUNTED WITHIN THE WALL AND IS SECURED AGAINST REMOVAL, AS WITH CEMENT. A PLASTIC DRINKING GLASS IS DISPOSED IN INVERTED POSITION ABOUT THE AEROSOL CONTAINER WITH THE RIM DISPOSED IN THE ANNULAR GROOVE AND AGAINST THE DEFINING WALL, THE BOTTOM OF THE GLASS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY CONTIGUOUS TO THE OPERATING PUSH BUTTON OF THE AEROSOL CONTAINER. DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE GLASS EFFECTING   DOWNWARD MOVEMENT PERMITTED BY THE RESILIENT MATERIAL OF THE BASE OPERATES THE AEROSOL CONTAINER VALVE TO SPRAY ANTISEPTIC WITHIN THE GLASS TO SANITIZE THE SAME FOR THE NEXT USER. THE RIM SUPPORTING GROOVE AND ADJACENT WALLS ARE IMPREGNATED WITH MICRO-ENCAPSULATED OR LIQUID ANTISEPTIC OR MINIMAL EVAPORATION TYPE FOR SANITIZING THE RIM OF THE GLASS.

n 111971 n. M. PRICE 3,582,261

SANITIIZER cousmnuc'rxon Filed May 7, 1969 INVENTOR: DAA/ M. Pflzc,

BYWJ JETZWIW, nrroxwe'ns United States Patent 3,582,261 SANITIZER CONSTRUCTION Dan M. Price, 804 N. Montgomery, Litchfield, 11]. 62056 Filed May 7, 1969, Ser. No. 822,495

Int. Cl. A611 3/00 US. CI. 2177 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Drinking glass sanitizer unit which includes a base of modified cup configuration of impregnatable resilient material, as plastic foam, having an integral concentric annular wall the inner side of which is cylindrical and the outer side of which slopes outwardly downwardly to an annular groove adjacent and below the defining wall of the cup. .An aerosol container with antiseptic liquid therein is mounted Within the Wall and is secured against removal, as with cement. A plastic drinking glass is disposed in inverted position about the aerosol container with the rim disposed in the annular groove and against the defining wall, the bottom of the glass being substantially contiguous to the operating push button of the aerosol container. Downward pressure on the bottom of the glass effecting downward movement permitted by the resilient material of the base operates the aerosol container valve to spray antiseptic within the glass to sanitize the same for the next user. The rim supporting groove and adjacent Walls are impregnated with micro-encapsulated or liquid antisepticor minimal evaporation type for sanitizing the rim of the glass.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention The present invention relates generally to the art of providing sanitary drinking facilities in a bathroom, and the like, and more particularly to providing a multi-use sanitized drinking glass unit in a family bathroom, and the like.

(2) Description of the prior art Heretofore, a number of attempts have been tried with varying success at providing a sanitary drinking container for use in a family bathroom, and the like. Multiple glasses with names on them have been used, but space is at a premium in most bathrooms and other small areas involving use by a number of persons, the individual glasses remain open to dust, bacteria, etc., containers become exchanged, and other difficulties arise. Paper cups in dispensers are used, but this gets expensive under heavy traflic, small children are inclined to use the cups freely and carelessly, a disposal problem exists and grows with aimless carrying of the cups about the house, and other difliculties attend. Other attempts have been made to provide a solution to this long existing problem of providing a sanitized drinking container in a bathroom, and the like, but all involve one or more of the difiiculties enumerated above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In brief, the present invention includes a resilient base member preferably of modified cup configuration of impregnatible resilient material, as plastic foam, within which is secured an aerosol container having therein an antiseptic liquid. Within the cup base adjacent the defining wall is an annular groove of resilient material. Sloping upwardly and inwardly from the annular ledge to the aerosol container is a Wall for deflecting or guiding the drinking rim of a glass into position in the annular groove. The bottom of the glass in its upside down position in the annular groove is substantially contiguous to the push element of the aerosol container, downward pressure thereon opening the container valve to spray the interior of the glass. The annular groove and adjacent cup wall contain antiseptic material to sanitize the rim and outer lip contact area of the glass.

Hence, an object of the present invention is to provide a sanitizer unit for drinking containers used in bathrooms, and the like, which satisfies a long-felt need existing in the art.

Other objects are to provide a novel sanitizer unit for drinking containers which is highly effective in providing a sanitary drinking container, which can be readily operated and used by children as well as adults, which is reasonably economical, which requires the use of but a single glass for all users, which occupies only a small amount of space, which provides in a throat spray a secondary use of the aerosol container, and which otherwise fufills the objects and advantages sought.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a drinking container sanitizer unit incorporating the teachings of the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is a vertical diametric view taken on substantially the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, 20 indicates generally a drinking container sanitizer unit incorporating the principles of the present invention. The sanitizer unit 20 includes a base 22 shown as in the form of an annular modified cup, an aerosol eontainer 24 having an antiseptic liquid, as Listerine, therein, and a drinking container 26.

The cup-like base 22 may be integral or integrated, being illustrated as the former, and is of resilient impregnatable material, as plastic foam. It includes a concentric annular wall 28 having an inner cylindrical surface 30 cemented or otherwise secured to the aerosol container 24 and an outer conical surface 32. The surface 32 terminates at an annular groove 34 adjacent the defining wall 36 of the cup-like base 22. The groove 34 and adjoining areas of the walls 28 and 36 are impregnated with micro-encapsulated contact released or liquid antiseptic, having a slow evaporation factor.

It will be noted that the drinking container 26 when resting rim down on the groove 34 has its bottom substantially contiguous to an operating push member 38 of the container 24. Pressing downwardly on the bottom 40 of the container 26, permitted by the resilient groove 34, moves member 38 and actuates the container 24 to spray the interior of the drinking container 26. On release of pressure, the drinking container rises and the spray stops.

The antiseptic impregnated groove 34 and adjacent areas of the walls 28 and 36 sanitize the rim 42 and lip contact area of the drinking container 26. The conical surface 32 directs the drinking container 26 into proper seating position in the groove 34.

'Manifestly, the base 22 may take many specific forms and be made of many available materials, or combinations of materials. Preferably, the groove 34 is of resilient material to permit depression of the drinking container 26, but depression can be achieved otherwise.

The aerosol container 24 can be removably mounted in the base 22, but for an inexpensive unit 20, it is more convenient to secure it therein. This relationship will depend in major part on the cost and type of materials of which the base is made.

The aerosol container 24 with drinking glass 26 removed can be employed as a mouth spray, a feature of the unit 20. For disposable units 20, the drinking glass 26 remains available for use.

It is apparent that there has been provided a sanitizer device which fulfills the objects and advantages sought.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing have been given by way of illustration and example. It is also to be understood that changes in form of the elements rearrangement of parts, and substitution of equivalent elements, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a drinking container sanitizing unit comprising a support, an aerosol container of antiseptic liquid, and a drinking container, said support and aerosol container being connected together, said drinking container being inverted over said aerosol container and having its rim disposed on said support, said dn'nking container further being supported with the bottom thereof substantially adjacent an operating member of said aerosol container, and means permitting downward movement of said drinking container to actuate said operating memher to spray antiseptic within the drinking container to sanitize same upon pressure being applied to the bottom of said drinking container.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which said support is impregnated with antiseptic transferable to the drinking container rim and adjacent areas to sanitize the same.

3. The combination of claim 1 and including an annular groove in the support for receiving the rim of the drinking container.

4. The combination of claim 3 and including means for deflecting the rim of said drinking container into said groove as it is placed over the aerosol container.

5. The combination of claim 4 in which said deflecting means comprises an annular conical surface adjacent the aerosol container.

6. The combination of claim 5 in which at least the part of the support in which the annular groove is formed is of resilient material.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l54,759 9/1874 Lautenbach et al. 2l79 807,468 .12/1905 Hunter 21-79 13,766,915 10/1956 Campbell ZZZ-182x 11,965,109 1l2/1960 Borah 206-47X 3.228.567 l/l966 Abplanalp 222l82X 3,254,803 15/1966 Meshberg 2"2-l'82 FOREIGN PATENTS 412,299 11/1945 Italy 11-91 764,891 1/1957 Great Britain 2178 MORRIS O. WOLK, Primary Examiner l. T. ZATARGA, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

El-79. 91; 222l92; 239274 

